Feeding mechanism for webs of paper and the like.



E. P. JENNINGS, IR. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR WEBS OF PAPER AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. 19M

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I- I II l vbtwwoeo E. P. JENNINGS, JR.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR WEBS OF PAPER AND THE LIKE.

APPUCATION FILED FEB. 9. 1914. 1,235,805.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

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, 11 W LA A I/L APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. 1914.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

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APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9, I914.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

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wilt ewes W 26 Show EMERSON P. JENNINGS, JR., 015 LEHIGHTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR WEBS OF PAPER AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. '7, 1917.

Application filed February 9, 1914. Serial No. 817,567.

i To all whom it may concern:

movemeht of the roll also stops.

Be it known that I, EMERSON P. JENNINGS, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Lehighton, in the county of Carbon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Mechanism for \Vebs of Paper and the like, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to feeding mechanism for webs of paper and the like and while designed more particularly for use with printing presses is capable of use in connection with various mechanisms Which operate on webs of material. It is desirable in mechanisms of this kind that devices be provided for feeding the web of material into the machine, that is, drawing it from the supply roll, or other source of supply, and feeding it to a position where it may be acted upon by a device which will feed it out of the machine, that is, draw it past the parts which are to act upon the same and deliver 'it at the desired point beyond said parts. Obviously, it is necessary that two feeding devices be properly timed with relation one to the other in order that the web may be fed in a proper manner and its movement may be properly timed with relation to the movement of the parts which act thereon. Further, it is sometimes necessary or desirable to employ intermittent feedin devices for moving the paper from the rol through the machine. After each operation of the feeding devices to draw olf a length of paper or other material from the roll the feeding action stops and the As a result, upon the next operation of the feeding devices it is necessary to overcome the inertia of the roll of material, which is often quite heavy, and this imposes a heavy strain upon the feeding devices which sometimes causes a slipping of the paper and often tears the paper in the normal operation of the machine.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these difficulties and to provide a mechanism which will operate to feed the web of paper into and out of the machine at a uniform speed, thereby enabling the movement of the web to be properly timed with relation to the operation of the machine. To this end it is a further object of the invention to so construct and arrange the feeding devices that the same feeding roller will act on the web to feed the same lnto and out of the machine; to apply a tension device to the web after its first engagement with said roller and before it is acted upon by said machine; and to provide 1n combination with devices to intermittently feed the web from the roll a controlling device which will cause the material to be drawn continuously from the supply roll, thereby keeping the roll in constant motion and preventing it from dragging on the feeding devices.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the invention; Fig. 2 is a detail view, partially broken away, showing the feeding device with the pressure rollers in their inoperative positions; Fig. 3 is a similar view with the pressure rollers in their operative positions; F ig. 4 is a sectional detail view of one end of the upper pressure roller; Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view of the bearing for the lower pressure roller; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a portion of a press showing the invention applied thereto; Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of{ the feed devices; Fig. 8 is an edge view, partially broken away, of the connection for the segment; Fig. 9 is a front view of the'same; and Fig. 10 is an edge view of the disk for driving the segment.

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same as applied to a reciprocatory printing press comprising a flat formbed and a fiat platen. The broad invention is well shown in the diagrammatic illustration of Fig. l, in which the supply of material is shown in the form of a roll 1 from which the web 2 is drawn by means of a feeding device comprising a master roller 3 which serves to move the web of material in both directions. Its first engagement with the web causes the same to be drawn from the supply roll and fed into a position adiacent to the press. The second that the web, should'be fed intermittently so that it will be Stationary during the taking of the impression. To this end the master roller 3 is driven intermittently. To relieve this master roller ofthe strain which would otherwise be imposed thereon in overcoming the inertia of the supply roll at the beginning of each feeding operation I have applied thereto an auxiliary controlling device vwhich acts upon the web during the interval between'the actions of the feeding device and causes the material to be drawn from the roll and the roll kept in movement during this interval. This device consists of a 'roller 7 placed in engagement with the web 2 between the supply roll and the feeding devices and caused to exert a yielding pressure thereon, which pressure will be overcome by the action of the feeding devices and the roll moved outward as the web is fed from the roll. As soon as the action of the feeding devices ceases the pressure of theroller 7 upon the web will draw a further portion of the web from the roll 1, thus keeping the roll in motion until the next action of the feeding devices. As here shown the roller of the aliiiliary device is carried by a shaft 8 w ch is slidably mounted at its opposite.

ends in slotted arms 9 pivotally mounted on the frame 10 which supports the supply roll. A spring 11,' or if desired there'may be a plurality of such springs, is connected with the roll 7 and tendsto move the same downward in the slotted guide arms. The spring 11 is of a long,- flexible character which, while exerting a constant pressure 'upon-=-the roller and causing the same to yieldingly engage the web at all times, will yield readily to permit the roller to rise under the'action of the feeding devices.

f The feeding devices, in the present inllstance, comprise three rollers, one of which is the, master roller 3. Arranged onopposite sides of the master roller are two pressure rollers 12 and 13, the roller 12 cooperating with the master roller to form the first feeding device which draws the web from the supply roll and feeds'the same into a'loop below the press. The upper roller, 13-, cooperates with the master roller .to form the second feeding device which feeds the paper from the loop through the press and delivers the same to the desired point beyond the press. A suitable tension device, such as the well known parallel bars4, about which the web is threaded, is applied to the web below the press, thus exerting a suflicient tension thereon to maintain the web taut during the action of the press and to enable the feeding of the same i to be properly regulated. By applying the only to feed the material from the supply roll without slipping and without tearing the material but it is also enabled to feed the material through the press, or other machine, in exact predetermined quantities which would be impossible if the supply roll exerted a drag upon the master roller which would reduce its speed or in any way interfere with its operation.

Intermittent feeding movement may be imparted to the master roller in any suitable manner and in the particular mechanism which I have here illustrated I have shown the device applied to a printing press and have embodied therein a particular form of mechanism for imparting this movement to the master roller which has proven, satisfactory. This embodiment of the invention, which is shown in Figs. 6 to 9, comprises a main frame 14 in which the master roller 3 and pressure rollers 12 and 13 are on an independent supporting frame arranged at the end of the press, but obviously no change of operation or function would result from mounting the roll and its 00-,

opprating devices on the .main frame itself. T e shaft of the master roller, which is shown at 15, projects beyond one of the frame members 14 and is provided with a gear 16 which meshes with a segmental rack 17 pivotally mounted on the frame member at a point remote from the gear 16. The gear 16 lsloosely mounted on the shaft of the master roller 3 and has secured thereto a ratchet wheel 18 which'cooperates with a pawl 19 carried by a disk 20 which is rigidly secured to the master roller. Consequently, the rotation of the gear 16 in one direction will cause the-master roller to be moved in a corresponding direction while the movement of the gear 16 in the opposite direction will not affect the roller but will allow the same to remain stationing. Oscillating movement is applied to t e segmental rack to actuate the gear 16. To this end I have shown the rack as carried by an arm 21 of SllfilClBIlt width to have formed therein a longitudinal slot 22 in which is slidably mounted a block 23 having a hearing to receive a crank pin 24 carriedby a crank disk 25 which is journaled on the frame of the press and to which positive rotary movement is imparted. In the present instance the disk 25 has secured thereto a sprocket wheel 26 which is driven by a sprocket chain to which movement is imparted from some suitable moving part of the mechanism. It will be apparent, therefore, that the rotation of the disk- 25-will impart oscillating movement to the segmental rack which, in turn, will impart intermittent rotary movement to the master I roller 3. The amount of movement imparted to the roller may be. adjusted in various ways, but, in the present embodiment of the inventlon, I have illustrated a very satisfactory device for accomplishing this adjust ment. The disk 25 is provided in that face adjacent to the segmental rack with a diametrical groove 28 in which is slidably mounted a block 29 which carries the crank pm 24 which actuates' the segmental rack. This slide block is provided with an extension 30 having teeth along one edge thereof which mesh with a pinion 31 carried by the crank disk 25. By actuating this pinion ra dial movement may be imparted to the block and the crank pin, thereby shortening or lengthening the throw thereof and modifying to a corresponding extent the movement imparted to the segmental rack.

The pressure rollers 12 and 13 are adjustable to regulate the pressure applied'to the web and further to allow the same to be moved out of engagement with the web to permit of the threading of the paper through the device or for other purposes. The roller 12 is shown as a continuous roller which is tubular in form. This roller is supported by a series of disks 33 eccentrically mounted upon a shaft 34 provided with a handle 35 by means of which it may be rotated. Obviously, the adjustment of the shaft and the eccentrics 33 causes the roller 12 to be moved toward or away from the master roller 3. In the present form of the device the disks 33 are shown as provided with ball races to receive antifriction balls 36. Further, the setting handle 35 is provided with a screw-threaded bolt 37 extending through a curved slot 38 in an arm 39 and having mounted thereon a thumb 'nut 40 by means of which the handle can be clamped in adjusted positions. The upper feed roller 13 is shown as comprising disks rigidly secured to a shaft 41 having at its opposite ends bearing apertures 42 to receive trunnions 44 eccentrically mounted on studs 45 journaled in the frame members 14. The studs 45 are provided with handles 46 by means of which they may be adjusted to cause the roller 13 to be moved toward or away from the master roller 3.

The web of paper after it passes the second feeding devime may be disposed of in any desired manner but I have, in the present instance, shown the machine as provided with a cutter in the form of shearer 47 arranged beyond the second feeding device and actuated in unison therewith to cause the web to be cut during the interval between the operations of the feeding device. To this end the movable member of the shears is actuated by links 458 eccentrically mounted on a shaft 49 which rotated by means of a sprocket chain 50 passing about a sprocket wheel 51 which rotates in unison with the crank disk 25 and is preferably rigidly secured to the shaft which carries that disk.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention and shown the same as applied to a. printing press of a particular type it will be understood that the invention either in its entirety or in part is applicable to printing presses of various kinds and to other mechanisms which operate upon a Web of material, whether it be paper or other material. I, therefore, wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a printing press, the combination with a fiat bed and platen having their cooperating faces in substantially vertical planes, one of said members being normally stationary and the other member having movement toward and from said stationary member, of a tension device arranged near the lower edge of said stationary member, a guide roller arranged 'near the upper edge of said stationary member, a feed roller mounted adjacent to and to the rear of said guide roller, a pressure roller coiiperating with said feed roller to feed a web of paper to said tens-ion device, a second pressure roller cooperating with said feed roller to draw said web of paper through said tension device across the face of said stationary member, and over said guide roller, and means operating in timed relation to the movements of said movable member to intermittently actuate said feed roller to cause said web of paper to be moved across said stationary member while said movable member is out of engagement therewith and to hold said web against movement while said members are in engagement.

2. In a printing press, the combination with a flat bed and platen having their cooperating faces in substantially vertical planes, one of said members being normallystationary and the other member having bodily movement toward and from said stationary member, of a tension device arranged near the lower edge of said stationary member, a guide roller arranged near the upper edge of said stationary member, a feed roller mounted adjacent to and to the rear of said guide roller, a pressure roller cooperating with said feed roller to feed a web of paper to said tension device, a second pressure roller coiiperating with said feed roller to draw said web of paper through said tension device, across the face of said stationary member and over said with a fiat ed and platen having their co a toothed rac pto revolve bodily about a fixed axis, said to be actuated when said gear moves in one direction only, a slotted arm pivotally mounted at a point remote from saidroller, a toothed rack carried by said arm and meshing with said gear, a wrist-pin extending into the slot in said arm and mounted to revolve bodily about a fixed axis, and means to actuate said wrist-pin.

3. In a rinting press, the combination operating faces in substantially vertical planes, one of said members being normally stationary and the other member having bodily movement toward and from said stationary member, of a tension device arranged near the lower edge of said stationary member, a guide roller arranged near the upper edge of said stationary member, a feed roller mounted adjacent to and to the rear of said guide roller, a pressure roller cooperating with said feed roller to feed a web of paper to said tension device, a second pressure roller cooperating with said feed roller to draw said web of paper through said tension device, across the face of said stationary member and over said guide roller, a gear having a clutch connection with said feed roller to cause the latter to be actuated when said gear moves in one direction only, a slotted arm 'pivotally mounted at a oint remote from said roller, carried by said arm and meshing with said gear, a wrist-pin extending into the slot in said arm and mounted wrist-pin being adjustable toward and from its axis, and means to actuate said wristpm. i

4. In a printing press, the combination with a flat bed and platen having their cooperating faces in substantially vertical planes, one of said members being normally stationary and the other member having bodily movement toward and from said stationary member, of a tension device arranged near the lower edge of said stationary'member, a guide roller arranged near the upper edge of said stationary member, a feed roller mounted adjacent to and to the rear of said guide roller, a pressure roller coiiperating with said feed roller to feed a v web of paper to said tension device, a second pressure roller coeperating with said feed roller to draw said webof paper through said tension device, across the face of said stationary member, and over said guide roller, means operating in timed relation to the movements of said movable member to intermittently actuate saidfeed roller to cause said web of paper to be moved across said stationary member while said movable member is out of engagement therewith and to hold said web against movement while said members are in engagement, a support for-'aroll of paper mounted to the rear of said feed roller, slotted guide arms pivotally mounted at their lower ends on a common axis, arranged below the axis of said roll of paper, a roller loosely mounted at its ends inthe slots of the respective arms and adapted to rest upon the web of paper as it is drawn from the roll, and a long flexible spring connected with the respective ends of said roller, extending about the axis of said arm and secured at fixed points remote from the axis of said arm.

5. The combination with a printing couple and a feeding device to intermittently feed a web of paper between the members of said printing couple, of a .roll holder comprising frame members having means to support a roll of paper between them, slotted arms pivotally mounted on the respective frame members on a common axis, arranged below the axis of said roll, and extending upwardly from said common axis, a roller mounted in said slotted arms and adapted to rest upon theweb of paper as it is drawn from said roll, and long helical springs connected with the respective ends of said roller, extending about the axis of said'arms and connected with said frame members at points remote from. the axis of said arms.

6. The combination with a printing couple and a feeding'device to intermittently feed a web of paper between the membersof said printing couple, of a roll holder comprising frame members having means to support a roll of paper between them, arms pivotally mounted ona common axis below the axis of said roll andhaving longitudinal guideways, a roller mounted in said guideways and adapted to rest upon the web of paper as it is drawn from said roll, and a long flexible spring connected with the respective ends of said roller, extending about the axis of said arms and connected with said frame members at a point remote from the axis of said arm.

roll of paper between them, arms plvotally mounted on a common axis below the axis of said roll and having longitudinal guide- 'ways and adapted to rest upon the web of .paper as it is drawn from said roll,'and a spring acting on said roller to move the same toward the lower ends of said guideways.

8. In a device of the character described, a feeding device to intermittently feed a web of paper from a roll, a roll holder comprising frame members having means to support a roll of paper between them, arms pivotally mounted below the axis of said r011, extending upwardly and having longitudinal guideways, a roller mounted in said guideways and adapted to rest upon the web of paper as it is drawn from said roll, and a spring acting on said roller to move the same toward the lower ends of said guideways.

9. In combination with a printing press having a stationary frame, a platen and a 00- operating movable form, an attachment comprising a main feed roller, means for pressing a web of paper against one side of the feed roller, a. tension mechanism, and

feed rollers cooperating with the opposite side of the main feed roller, said tension 15 mechanism and said cooperating feed rollers being on opposite sides of the platen of the press whereby the web is kept smooth and taut While receiving an impression.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signa- 20 ture in presence of two witnesses.

EMERSON P. JENNINGS, JR.

WVitnesses:

P. M. GRAUL, FLORENCE N. SHAFER. 

